lesser-included offense is reversible error in Arkansas

15 Arkansas opinions name it 2 courts 2001–2025 4 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Arkansas courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (3)

Case	Followed	Cited
Ellis v. Stategreen ark · 2001 · cited in 4 Arkansas opinions naming this issue, 2002–2016 2 sentences 2006While this court has announced that the “refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence [,]” we have likewise said “we will affirm a trial court’s decision to exclude an instruction on a lesser-included offense if there is no rational basis for giving the instruction.” Ellis v. State, 345 Ark. 415, 418 , 47 S.W.3d 259, 260 (2001); see also Ark. 2006While this court has announced that the “refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence [,]” we have likewise said “we will affirm a trial court’s decision to exclude an instruction on a lesser-included offense if there is no rational basis for giving the instruction.” Ellis v. State, 345 Ark. 415, 418 , 47 S.W.3d 259, 260 (2001); see also Ark.	2	4
Harshaw v. Stategreen ark · 2001 · cited in 3 Arkansas opinions naming this issue, 2001–2020 2 sentences 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988). 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988).	2	3
Starling v. Stategreen ark · 2016 · cited in 3 Arkansas opinions naming this issue, 2016–2019 2 sentences 2019See Starling v. State, 2016 Ark. 20 , 480 S.W.3d 158 . 2019See Starling v. State, 2016 Ark. 20 , 480 S.W.3d 158 .	1	3

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

Case	Negative	Cited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Arkansas. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (9)

Case	Cited	Years
Matthew Armstrong v. State of Arkansas green ark · 2020 2 sentences 2021Armstrong v. State, 2020 Ark. 309, at 9 , 607 S.W.3d 491, 498 . 2021Armstrong v. State, 2020 Ark. 309, at 9 , 607 S.W.3d 491, 498 .	2	2021–2021
Chavez v. State green arkctapp · 2018 1 sentence 2025Chavez v. State, 2018 Ark.	1	2025–2025
Eric Bragg v. State of Arkansas green arkctapp · 2021 1 sentence 2023Id. at 8–9.	1	2023–2023
Henson v. State green ark · 1988 2 sentences 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988). 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988).	1	2020–2020
Flowers v. State green ark · 2005 2 sentences 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988). 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988).	1	2020–2020
Boyle v. State green ark · 2005 2 sentences 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988). 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988).	1	2020–2020
Rainey v. State green ark · 1992 2 sentences 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988). 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988).	1	2020–2020
Derrick A. Dixon v. State of Arkansas neutral ark · 2019 1 sentence 2020As the majority correctly notes, refusal to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense is reversible error “if the instruction is supported by even the slightest evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) Dixon v. State, 2019 Ark. 245 , 581 S.W.3d 505 ; Boyle v. State, 363 Ark. 356 , 214 S.W.3d 250 (2005); Flowers v. State, 362 Ark. 193 , 208 S.W.3d 113 (2005); Harshaw v. State, 344 Ark. 129, 133 , 39 S.W.3d 753, 755 (2001); Rainey v. State, 310 Ark. 419 , 837 S.W.2d 453 (1992); Henson v. State, 296 Ark. 472 , 757 S.W.2d 560 (1988).	1	2020–2020
Friar v. State green ark · 2016 2 sentences 2019Friar v. State, 2016 Ark. 245 . 2019Friar v. State, 2016 Ark. 245 .	1	2019–2019

Statutes the citing opinions construe

AR § Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-202 (8) AR § Ark. Code Ann. § 5-10-102 (6) AR § Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-110 (5) AR § Ark. Code Ann. § 5-10-104 (5) AR § Ark. Code Ann. § 5-10-103 (4)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

AR 15 (2001–2025) NM 2 (2018–2018)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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